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news Transformation update - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) In the last edition of Digest, we looked at some of the key activities and areas of work integral to ERP’s success. In this article we hear from some of the people involved in the successful cutover of Business Stream 1 (BS1) and Corporate which enabled them to ‘Go Live’ on 2 November 2010 and find out what’s next on the ERP calendar. Nigel Turton, Corporate Head of Accounting and Finance Policy told Digest, “Whilst several colleagues in Corporate Finance had the benefit of experience from previous BaaN cutovers, the weekend of activity for the Donnington and Corporate ‘Go Live’ was intense and presented a host of new challenges. As Business Process Owner for Finance I am proud of the considerable effort, diligence and achievement of the Finance team involved during this significant change period and pleased to see the whole business at Donnington and Head Office working together in order to achieve collective success.” Paul Oates, BS1’s Cutover Manager shares his experience of cutover, “What struck me immediately was the commitment of the Donnington team to be ready for ‘Go Live’.” Work In Progress (WIP) Cutover Team “ What struck me immediately was the commitment of the Donnington team to be ready for ‘Go Live’. ” “My major concern was the cutover of purchase orders, sales orders and work in progress (WIP), the latter being the most challenging. The two major activities were the customisation of and processing into work of projects and the actual planning and releasing of work to shop floor.” “The Engineering Data team grasped the first complex task with the same determination they had shown during the months of preparation leading up to cutover. They then handed on to the planning team who set up a LEAN processing line to deliver orders, via a visually managed documentation control system, to the shop floor in record time. The team work and problem solving displayed in The Documentation Control Team these activities was a feature of the whole weekend.” Asked how he feels now that BS1 has gone live Graham Sargent, Head of Business Stream 1, told Digest, “For some time now, I have seen positive people doing positive things, their performance and achievements have been immense. They are continually changing and improving the way we do things.” As well as being involved in BS1 Business user pilots, a team from the main operating units of BS2 including Bovington, Catterick, Colchester, Stirling and Warminster, took the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of a BaaN cutover in preparation for their ‘Go Live’ at the end of April 2011. Digest asked Graham Bullen, BS2 Interim Head of Support Services, what he and his team had gained from the weekend, “We have gained detailed understanding of the cutover process. Having physical access to the system has developed confidence amongst the team and it was extremely positive for the BS2 staff to be able to support their BS1 colleagues in achieving another successful transformation milestone for DSG.” “It was great to see first hand how planning drives the operation in the future. Recreating this event across the five main operating units and 15 dependent IBES will be a challenge but one that we are now better prepared for.” Delivery of first batch of BaaN shop floor documentation to Minor Assemblies Team What next? ECBU training began in November and invitations for BS2 training will go out in December, with training scheduled to start in mid January 2011. Information on ERP is available by following the ERP link on the front page of the DSG intranet. 6 DIGEST December/January 2011 www.dsg.mod.uk
news Apprentice update Andrew Murray working hard on the ship SETTING SAIL Our enviable apprentice scheme continues turning out engineers of the very highest calibre. At the Tom Nevard Memorial Competition in Glasgow, apprentices representing DSG endured four days of machining and general hand fitting against a strong contingent of apprentices from Abbey Wood and DSDA. The exemplary skills of four apprentices from Donnington earned them all awards. Ben Dovey won first place and Steve Wilson runner up in the Hand Skills Phase 2 for making a setting tool, Matthew Powell’s half inch square drive ratchet racked up the Machining Phase 2 prize with Kevin Lewis placed runner up. Our Bovington site proudly achieved success with Ben Camfield winning in the Machining Phase 1 and James Braithwaite runner up for construction of a rotating mechanism. Barry Potts, Donnington Apprentice Supervisor commented on the success of the apprentices “It is fantastic news that DSG has won so many accolades at this year’s competitions. When you train someone, you hope that what you are teaching him or her is sinking in. Of course winning awards clearly demonstrates that it is. Our representation and successes at the competitions clearly shows that we have a solid scheme with good apprentice masters guiding the apprentices.” Andrew Murray, an apprentice at DSG Donnington, recently won the Elvy and Coast Award, which is a charity award offering the successful apprentice the opportunity and funding to take part in a character building adventure activity. Andrew’s chosen activity was the south west coast challenge, which sailed in August from Brixham in Devon to Barry Island in South Wales. With a crew of 64 working together as a team and sharing responsibilities, they took part in all aspects of sailing, working quickly and efficiently in responding to orders from the helm, manning the wheel, setting sail, ‘Happy hour’ also known as cleaning, helping to cast off and dock the ship and climbing the mast to stow the sails. Speaking about his experience, Andrew told Digest “I gained a lot from it as I learnt how to work better in a team. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” TOM NEVARD MEMORIAL COMPETITION The successful Donnington apprentices, L-R, Ben Dovey, Kevin Lewis, Steve Wilson and Matthew Powell The successful Bovington apprentices, Ben Camfield (left) and James Braithwaite MOD Apprentice of the Year, Daniel Wright MOD APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR Daniel Wright, an apprentice from DSG Catterick has received the prestigious MOD Apprentice of the Year title. Daniel’s achievement has made it a consecutive year gold medal success for DSG. Dr Liam Fox Secretary of State for Defence will present him with his award at MOD’s annual Apprentice Awards ceremony in London this month. We shall cover this story in detail in the next edition of Digest, including pictures of his great day. Everyone across DSG congratulates Daniel on his triumphant achievement. Daniel has also reaped further success, coming runner up in the Team Challenge of the Tom Nevard Competition. Working with Catterick apprentices Kev Foster, Bruce Thomson and Richard Marsh, the team had to design and produce a golf trolley in 27 hours from the electric components, wheels and motor supplied. The Catterick apprentice award winners, L-R, Bruce Thomson, Richard Marsh, Daniel Wright and Kevin Foster www.dsg.mod.uk December/January 2011 DIGEST 7
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